Aerospace Graduation Alumni Speaker

Moriba JaMoriba Jah (Aero Engr MS'01, PhD'05) is an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin where he is the holder of the Mrs. Pearlie Dashiell Henderson Centennial Fellowship in Engineering.

His research interests are in non-gravitational astrodynamics and advanced/non-linear multi-sensor/object tracking,  prediction, and information fusion. His expertise is in space object detection, tracking, identification, and characterization, as well as spacecraft navigation.

He received his BS in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, and his MS and PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder specializing in astrodynamics and statistical orbit determination.

Prior to UT Austin, Jah held positions in the Air Force Research Laboratory directed energy and vehicles directorates and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he was a spacecraft navigator on multiple Mars missions.

Jah has served on the US delegation to the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of  Outer Space, is an elected Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), and has testified to Congress on his work as related to Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management.

Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences will host a spring ceremony for all graduating aerospace students. The event will feature multiple speakers and all graduates will have their name announced and be able to walk across the stage to receive their diploma cover. This event is separate from the campus-wide commencement.

Thursday, May 11

  • 8:30 a.m. – Campus-wide Commencement Ceremony at Folsom Field Stadium
  • 12:00 p.m. – AES Awards Reception held at Aerospace Building
    • 12:00 p.m. Graduate Awards
    • 12:15 p.m. Sigma Gamma Tau and AIAA Awards
    • 12:30 p.m. Senior Projects Awards

Friday, May 12

  • 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. – Aerospace Graduation Ceremony at CU Events Center (Doors open at 6 p.m.)
    • Processional
    • Welcoming Remarks
      Dr. Hanspeter Schaub, Chair
    • PhD Regalia History
      Dr. Kurt Maute, Associate Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum
    • Presentation of the PhD Candidates
    • Presentation of the MS Candidates
    • Introduction of the Alumni Keynote
      Dr. Jay McMahon, Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
    • Alumni Address
      Dr. Moriba Jah (AeroEngr MS’01, PhD’05)
    • Presentation of the BS Candidates
    • Dismissal

Live English and Spanish captioning will be provided during the recognition ceremony. English captions will be on the screen in the CU Events Center and Spanish captioning is available on your device at this link.

Can't make the Friday ceremony in person? It will be live streamed on YouTube here.

Graduation Frequently Asked Questions

There are no limits to number of guests per student.

No passes, tickets or invitations are necessary.

No, seats cannot be reserved, they are first come, first served.

Yes, the CU Events Center does adhere to the clear bag policy. The only bags allowed clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” or one-gallon (or smaller) clear plastic Ziploc/freezer bag. No other bags are permitted at all; includes backpacks, diaper bags and other similar bags. More information on the clear bag policy can be found here.

More information about parking can be found here.

Close-in parking and drop off locations are available for those who have difficulty walking; ADA placards are not required. Specific seating areas are already reserved for those with wheelchairs, the elderly, and guests with physical disabilities. Reservations for these areas are not required.

Please see the following links for additional related information:

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to hosting accessible and inclusive experiences for its diverse community members.  If you require accommodations to participate, engage, or attend the event, please contact Kassadi Gabriel at aeroevents@colorado.edu no later than two weeks before the event.  We will make all reasonable efforts to fulfill requests submitted after the deadline; however, requests received after the deadline cannot be guaranteed as it is dependent on a service provider’s availability.

Yes! Watch it on YouTube here.

Campus-Wide Commencement FAQs can be found here.

For additional aerospace ceremony questions please contact aeroevents@colorado.edu